New Red Routes

Florence Eshalomi: Whatplans, if any, does TfL have to add London Borough roads to the Tfl Road Network?

The Mayor: The GLA Act makes it possible for roads to be adopted into the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) under certain circumstances. This would be considered if it were feasible, affordable and would significantly improve my ability to implement the objectives of my Transport Strategy for a strategic road in London, or manage the movement of people and goods for London in line with Transport for London’s (TfL) statutory Network Management Duty.
TfL is not actively progressing with the adoption of any specific borough roads. However, Assembly Members will be aware that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) decided to withdraw support for the safety improvements proposed for Holland Park Avenue and Notting Hill Gate prior to the end of the consultation process. While I hope that the mitigations to be proposed will overcome RBKC’s concerns, adoption remains an option should an agreeable way forward not be found.

Trade Unions and Croydon Tram Investigation

Keith Prince: Further to your statement in front of Unite the Union demonstrators on 29 August that ‘trade unions have such a massive role in a civilised democracy” why have you refused to honour GMB Union’s request to conduct an Independent Investigation to review why TfL failed to supply critical Tram safety evidence to the Croydon Tram Crash investigators?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor's Question 2019/14344

Operation Midland (4)

Peter Whittle: To ask the Mayor what dealings the Metropolitan Police has had with Tom Watson, MP in respect of Operation Midland.

The Mayor: The MPS has confirmed that Mr Watson had no formal role in Operation Midland.
Mr Watson was spoken to by telephone by a Detective Sergeant in May 2015 and was subsequently met by the same officer in August 2015. Mr Watson relayed information regarding the allegations Beech had made to him.
The MPS have not identified any records of further meetings at this time.

Air pollution

Tony Devenish: Will the Mayor support planting projects to improve air quality on Warwick Road and Earl’s Court Road which are some of the most polluted roads in the country?

The Mayor: To support the improvement of air quality and general appearance of this area Transport for London (TfL) have identified planting locations on A4 Cromwell Road between Warwick Road and Earls Court Road. A scheme will begin in September to add more plants to this section of road. In addition, TfL are also exploring the possibility of a smaller similar scheme around the junction of Old Brompton Road and Warwick Road, which will include re-landscaping a small green triangle.
On Warwick Road and Earls Court Road themselves, TfL have carried out several investigations through use of trial holes to plant new trees. Unfortunately, no suitable locations were found due to shallow basements in the area and the large amount of utilities within the footway.
While green infrastructure such as trees and hedges can reduce people’s exposure to air pollution when appropriately designed and located, the most effective way to improve air quality is by reducing the sources of emissions. The Mayor has published guidance to assist boroughs and others in designing green infrastructure to tackle air pollution: https://www.london.gov.uk/WHAT-WE-DO/environment/environment-publication...

Best Value Land

Navin Shah: Are a) MOPAC and b) the LFB bound to dispose of sites for “best value” in terms of cash? Would there be any possibility/mechanism to dispose of land for less than full market value but considering benefits to the public, such as affordable housing, or indeed directly to the disposing authority like key worker housing?

The Mayor: A) MOPAC has a statutory duty to secure the efficiency and effectiveness of the Metropolitan Police Service, to secure value for money in the use of assets, and to hold the Commissioner to account for their duty to secure value for money.
In disposals, best value is normally most effectively demonstrated by an open market transaction. Alternative routes/approaches for disposal at best value will be considered for each property during its preparation to market for sale.
MOPAC has no powers to dispose of land at an undervalue to provide affordable housing. However, when bidding on the basis of residential redevelopment bidders will be asked to acknowledge that when making an offer they have had regard to relevant planning policies, including existing local authority policies on minimum affordable housing requirements, the Mayor's Supplementary Planning Guidance on affordable housing and the draft London Plan. Parties will be encouraged to review the GLA funding available for the provision of affordable housing through the Mayor's 'Homes for Londoners: Affordable Homes Programme 2016-2021.
B) Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires London Fire Brigade (LFB) to achieve the best consideration on all property disposals. Any disposals made at less than best consideration require the approval of the Secretary of State. Property may be disposed of at an undervalue if another benefit is derived from that sale linked to the Brigade’s statutory functions. While LFB can build housing for its key worker staff, it has no powers to dispose of land at an undervalue to provide affordable housing for the general public, nor for key workers of other organisations, as LFB is not a housing authority.

Pan-London Gangs Work

Jennette Arnold: What research has been undertaken to establish how many young Londoners are at risk from gang involvement?

The Mayor: The Children’s Commissioner’s report in February 2019 estimated that there are 27,000 young people aged 10-17 in England who identified as being in a street gang. However, this figure is scaled up from around 4,000 responses in the Crime Survey for England and Wales. The Children’s Commissioner also carried out separate research with Youth Offending Teams and Children’s Services and found that 6,560 young people were involved in gangs and known to these services. The difference between the two figures demonstrates the difficulty in estimating the number of young people involved in gangs.
The Gang Violence Matrix is the primary tool the Met has to help them tackle violence related to gangs, however it is a tool for prioritising resources rather than a list of everyone thought to be in a gang. Where appropriate, intelligence received around individuals at risk of gang involvement will be managed locally by the Met at a Basic Command Unit (BCU) level, using established safeguarding procedures in conjunction with local partners.
On 19 September 2019 the Rescue and Response programme, funded through the London Crime Prevention Fund, published its first annual strategic assessment of county lines activity in London. County lines are drug distribution operations run by gangs or organised criminal networks, which exploit young people and vulnerable adults. Research of Met intelligence systems, information shared by Local Authority or Social Services, research of existing Local Authority and Police cohorts, and referrals to Rescue and Response, identified 4,013 London-based individuals as being linked, or suspected of being linked, to county lines exploitation. Of these, 75% were aged 25 or under, with the youngest identified being 11.

Support for taxi fleet owners to switch to electric taxis

Caroline Pidgeon: Will you re-examine the merits of providing support for fleet owners of taxis to purchase electric taxis through TfL using its powers of bulk purchasing to drive down the current price of electric taxis – using powers that TfL in the past has used to purchase New Routemaster buses?

The Mayor: Leasing cabs at a reduced price could put Transport for London (TfL) in direct competition with taxi rental companies and any financial advantage granted by TfL through public resources on a selective basis is likely to be restricted under State Aid rules.
However, TfL has encouraged registered owners of black taxis to delicense their older, more polluting vehicles and upgrade to zero emission capable models.
For more information on the support we are providing to taxi owners and drivers, please see my response to Mayor's Question 2019/14187.

Freedom of the Press (1)

Peter Whittle: The British ambassador to the United States, Sir Kim Darroch resigned his post on 10 July 2019, saying his position had become ‘impossible’ following the leak of diplomatic cables in which he described Donald Trump’s White House as ‘inept’ and ‘dysfunctional’. On 12 July 2019 Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu issued a statement, warning that any newspaper contemplating publishing leaked documents of any sort may find itself facing a criminal investigation. Given that Fleet Street editors are not usually signatories to the Official Secrets Act, this statement appears to be an act of naked intimidation of our free press. Mr Basu subsequently backed down, stating that the Metropolitan Police has ‘no intention of seeking to prevent editors from publishing stories in the public interest’. But the original threat still stands. I am very surprised to learn that Basu thinks it’s his job to tell Fleet Street what it can and can't publish.Was his statement cleared by the Commissioner?

The Mayor: The MPS informs me that Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu did not discuss this with the Commissioner before its publication.